Halszkaraptor

Halszka's plunderer (Halszka's thief)

• Halszka · Polish (personal name) · Halszka Osmólska, Polish paleontologist
• raptor · Latin · plunderer, robber, thief

The name honours Halszka Osmólska, the Polish paleontologist who studied Mongolian dinosaurs, combined with the Latin word for "plunderer" or "thief" (raptor), a common ending for dromaeosaurid-type theropods. The type species is H. escuilliei, named for Francois Escuillié, who was involved in the specimen's commercial recovery and repatriation. The animal had a long neck and a crocodile-like snout, and it may have been semiaquatic.

Named by

Cau et al.

Year named

2017

Period

Late Cretaceous

Stage

Campanian

Found in

Djadochta Formation, Ukhaa Tolgod area, Mongolia

A small paravian theropod usually placed in Dromaeosauridae (Halszkaraptorinae), alongside Mahakala and Hulsanpes. The holotype was illegally exported and later returned to Mongolia.